Hope for India-Bangladesh ties in Tarique Rahman’s development pitch: diplomatic sources

India continues to remain “careful” in setting its expectations on working with the incoming administration of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) but the party’s chairman, Tarique Rahman, has a development agenda that may provide an opportunity to both sides to normalise the relations, The Hindu has learnt from highly placed diplomatic sources who are aware of the plans in this regard.

The Indian side keenly watched the campaign trail of Mr. Rahman and found that his 31-point agenda has several areas such as his plans in the digital domain and infrastructure building that may help ties that had stalled in the previous 17 months because of multiple factors, including the escape of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India on August 5, 2024.

Also read: Women, minority representation at two-decade low in Bangladesh

Mr. Rahman, who returned after more than one and half decade-long exile in the United Kingdom on December 25, 2025, was greeted by a huge crowd and subsequently the support for him and his party was seen in the funeral prayers for his mother, the former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on December 31. However, it was his election campaign that caught attention in relevant quarters as he steered clear from playing any anti-India card. It was noticed that the anti-India card was not played directly by his opponents Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) but they often referred to the India factor through codes like ‘pro-hegemony forces’ in their election speeches. In contrast, Mr. Rahman stuck to his 31-point plans that had commitment to building an inclusive ‘Rainbow Nation’, and reiterated the BNP’s opposition to “terrorism, extremism and militancy”.

In his campaign trail, Mr. Rahman had promised to “boost regional and international trade and commerce through infrastructural development, technical modernisation, and skills enhancement in all seaports and river ports.” The Hindu was told these promises are being examined in Delhi for possible areas of cooperation. That apart, both sides will have issues such as renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty later this year that are also being studied.

Under pressure

Mr. Rahman is expected to take charge as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) and there is significant pressure on him to deliver on the foreign policy front. Addressing questions from journalists in the first press interaction on Saturday (February 14, 2026), Mr. Rahman had indicated that he will decide on international cooperation based on Bangladesh’s national interest.

In response to a question on Bangladesh’s stance on China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Mr. Rahman said, “We will try to protect the interests of the people of Bangladesh. If something is not in Bangladesh’s interest, naturally we cannot pursue it. I am certain that mutual interests will be our first priority.” While India and Bangladesh have maintained ties during the 17 months of the interim government, the two sides have not hosted each other’s top leaders during this period. The relationship and especially major connectivity projects have therefore taken a hit in this period. That apart, the two sides have experienced stressful phases as witnessed in December 2025 in the aftermath of the murder of young Islamist leader Sharif Osman Hadi when mobs threatened Indian diplomatic missions and visa centres.

According to an estimate, around 49 agitations were organised in 17 months that delivered threats to India’s missions in Bangladesh. One of the main expectations, The Hindu has learned, would be for the new administration to ensure security and protection of India’s diplomatic missions and visa centres so that the visa services, that are vital for commercial and people-to-people ties, can be normalised by both sides.

The relation however will face considerable strain because of political activities that former Prime Minister Hasina and her former colleagues continue to carry out from Indian cities. While the Awami League of Ms. Hasina continues to remain banned here, Mr. Rahman has spoken against ‘revenge’ politics and has said the wrong doings of the previous regime will be subjected to a judicial process.